The Forever Lobbying Project - winner
Le Monde, with journalist Stéphane Horel and media partners across 16 countries
A consortium including 46 journalists and 18 experts coordinated by Le Monde, investigated how the PFAS industry lobbied for over a year to weaken and delay EU legislation restricting "forever chemicals". Jury member Maryna Rakhlei praised the investigation for giving "evidence to judge whose interests are shaping decisions that affect all of us."
Factories on the Run: Inside the Global Trade That Moves PFAS Downstream - winner
The Guardian, with journalists Gianluca Liva, Anna Violato, Marta Frigerio, Filippo Tommasoli and Thomas Goorden
The team of freelancers traced what happened to the Miteni factory in the northern Italian city of Vicenza, which had contaminated drinking water in the region with PFAS chemicals after it found a second life in India after its closure in Italy and subsequent relocation. According to juror Neus Vidal Martí, this investigation changed the conversation in India. She highlighted the fact that six freelance journalists had produced reporting with consequences spanning two continents and reaching a national parliament: "What stood out was how much a small team achieved across borders."
Killing for the Photo Opportunity - honourable mention
With journalists Barbara Matejcic and Ruben Brugnera
The reconstruction of the story behind the only professional photographs of an execution during the Bosnian War received an honourable mention. Jury member Can Ertuna highlighted that the investigation underscored "that persistence showed how journalism could contribute to justice and, potentially, some measure of healing for victims and their families."
The two other Journalismfund Europe-supported investigations on the shortlist - DRC's European Shadow Army, on the role of Romanian, Moldovan and French security contractors in Congo, and Exporting Abortion, on cross-border abortion access in Europe - did not receive an award, but remained part of the ten shortlisted investigations selected from a record fifty eligible entries.
With this result, Journalismfund Europe again sees its supported investigations recognised at the IJ4EU Impact Award.
We hope to see more strong teamwork highlighted next year — applications for the 2027 edition open in late February.
